Articles by Guest Contributor
Guest contributors write for FashionUnited on a voluntary basis to share their expertise and highlight topics that matter to fashion industry professionals.
The Breuninger case: the sale of Germany's last independent premium department store stalls
A year ago, rumours of Breuninger being up for sale surfaced. Since then, things have gone quiet. What could complicate a potential deal and which investors are even possible prospects? An analysis by Dirk Boventer, partner at the management consultancy Atreus. One year of sale intentions and no deal in sight Breuninger is considered one of the...
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“Brat Green” and beyond: What fashion designers can learn about colour trade marks
When Charli XCX dropped her album “Brat” last year, she didn’t just spark a music frenzy - she launched a colour moment. The acid-lime shade dubbed “Brat Green” flooded social media, merchandise, beauty and fashion. Designers such as Prada, McQueen and Fendi adopted the colour, making it one of 2024’s defining visuals. Fast forward to Summer...
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Bold, brilliant, blue: How 2027's colour of the year sets a new standard for brand activations
There's something undeniably magnetic about a bold, saturated colour when it takes over a physical space, and WGSN's Colour of the Year for 2027, Luminous Blue, proves this in spectacular fashion. Described as "both mysterious and eccentric," this rich, potent blue has become a beacon for brands daring enough to wield colour as a full-bodied...
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Cultural shifts shaping spring summer 26 footwear
As we look toward Spring Summer 2026, four distinct footwear directions emerge that will respond to evolving consumer needs and cultural shifts. These directions blend emotional resonance with functional design, offering footwear that honors both heritage traditions and contemporary innovation while addressing the desire for authentic...
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Why fast-fashion is harming second-hand – and what we can do about it
June ended with yet another blow to Europe’s struggling post-consumer textiles sector: Texaid Germany filed for insolvency. This is a significant setback for the group and for the broader reuse and recycling ecosystem. Just as European policymakers begin to treat textile waste with the seriousness it deserves, the very infrastructure needed to...
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How to avoid a sad beige ending: Lessons drawn from the 'Sad Beige Influencer' case
How can a trailblazer influencer protect themselves from others who mimic their style to unfair commercial advantage? A short, sharp answer is to build a ‘brand’, not just an ‘aesthetic’. Vague claims and vanilla imagery don’t stand up in court. To be effectively enforced, intellectual property needs to be concrete, specific, and original –...
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Circular fashion won’t work without consumers on board
Although European consumers might be ready for a circular economy, their wallets aren’t. Recent research carried out for the EU SOLSTICE project across four European territories—Catalonia, Berlin, Prato and Grenoble—found that price and convenience are major factors in driving engagement with circular clothing offerings: as long as circular...
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Trump's tariffs: Unexpected boom for second-hand clothing market
Around a month ago, Donald Trump turned his favourite word ‘tariffs’ into a much-feared reality. The result? Panic in the fashion world, stock market prices that are trembling, and brands that are frantically calculating price increases in Excel spreadsheets. Because one thing is certain: ‘new’ will soon be a lot more expensive. But while brands...
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Does sustainability really sell? Fashion industry leaders reveal the truth
Sustainability is a term that’s increasingly popping up in shop windows, clothing tags, headlines, and more, especially when it comes to the fashion industry. This not-so-new buzzword has spread rapidly in recent years, largely as a response to the industry’s growing environmental and social challenges. But does it really sell? Can ethical...
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Runway to rip-offs: How copyright protects your creations
Fashion weeks have come to a close. If you're a designer, stylist, or fashion lover, you're likely to be buzzing with inspiration. But at what point does taking inspiration cross the line into copying? And what can you do if someone steals your design? We’ve previously covered design rights and using your name as your brand (i.e. trade mark)....
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